The boy got his arm trapped while disembarking the conveyor belt. | Image: Kyodo News
A tragic accident at a ski resort in northern Japan claimed the life of a 5-year-old boy on Sunday after his right arm became trapped in a magic carpet ski lift, Japanese newspapers report.
Firefighters and police said they received an emergency call from the child’s mother just before 10:00 a.m., reporting that her son was stuck on a conveyor-belt-style surface lift at Asarigawa Ski Resort in Otaru, Hokkaido. The boy, who lived in nearby Sapporo, was transported to hospital after being freed but was later pronounced dead. According to the local fire department, the 5-year-old boy was unconscious when he was rescued approximately 45 minutes later. The boy later stopped breathing and could not be resuscitated.
According to police and firefighters, the boy fell while attempting to disembark from the lift, which connects the resort’s parking area to the ski slope. His arm became trapped at the end of the conveyor. The lift reportedly does not have a handrail.
The conveyor from the car park is on the left in the trail map. | Image: Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort
Rescue efforts continued for roughly 30 minutes as emergency personnel worked to free the child. Witnesses at the resort described an emotionally distressing scene. According to Kyodo News, a couple in their 40s who passed near the site said they heard someone believed to be connected to the boy repeatedly shouting words of encouragement from inside an area cordoned off with blue tarps.
Despite the fatal accident, the ski resort remained open following the incident.
Concerns about the lift’s safety were also raised by regular visitors. A man in his 70s,who is a frequent visitor to Asarigawa Ski Resort, told Kyodo News that the conveyor has several points where the slope changes, causing the belt to shake. He said he had stumbled there himself in the past and had previously thought the lift was dangerous.
The resort is a small, family-oriented ski area near the port city of Otaru, popular with beginners and local skiers due to its proximity to Sapporo. Like many Japanese ski hills, it uses magic carpet lifts to transport guests short distances uphill, particularly between base facilities and lower-elevation slopes.
Authorities have not released further details regarding the precise cause of death or whether mechanical issues were involved. An investigation by the police into the circumstances of the accident is ongoing.
The conveyor at Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort (archive picture). | Image: Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort Facebook
AloJapan.com